Hawaiian Fishes 31 



THE EAGLE RAY FAMILY 



10 Family Myliobatidae (Aetobatidae) 



This family includes about twenty species of large sting rays inhabiting 

 tropical seas. Their body, head, and pectoral fins are flattened to form a 

 broad disc-like body. In this family, the pectoral fins which form the sides 

 of the body do not unite in front of the head as in other rays. Instead 

 these fins end on each side of the head in a fleshy knob called a "cephalic 

 fin." The tail is very long, slender, and whip-like and contains a small 

 dorsal fin at its base and behind it the usual sharp, serrated spine. The 

 skin is smooth and is usually darker in color above than below. 



The teeth of these fishes are very unusual. They are ail large and flat 

 and are laid like mosaic to form a tessellated or checkered pavement in 

 each jaw. In addition, the mouth is usually equipped with three rows of 

 narrower teeth on each side. The wide row of teeth on the floor of the 

 mouth extends from the front of the mouth like a spade and is probably 

 used to dig in the clam and oyster beds. 



These rays feed principally on molluscs which they dig from beds 

 and crush with their large grinding teeth. 



The members of this family are ovoviviparous and hatch their eggs 

 within the body of the mother. 



These fishes were named eagle rays because their skull resembles the 

 skull of an eagle. 



Of about twenty species in the family, only one is known from 

 Hawaiian waters. 



Spotted Eagle Ray 



Also known as the Spotted Sting Ray, Spotted Whip Ray, Lupe, 



Hihimanu or Ihimanu 



10-1 Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen) 



The spotted eagle ray reaches a width of six or eight feet and will 

 weigh more than 450 pounds. In color, it is pale greenish or bluish gray 

 above and white beneath. The back is covered with bluish-white, yellow- 

 ish, or pearly spots and the tail is chocolate brown in color. The teeth 

 of this species form a mosaic on the floor of the mouth and project from 

 it like a spade. The creature is a bottom feeder and uses these strange teeth 

 to pry loose and to crush the clams and oysters on which it feeds. 



